FFRK - Maniacal Clown (VI) Event & Strategies

[Kirin]

One Winged Angel? Never heard of her.

Spoiler: show

Move aside children. This is how you do boss music.



Quality isn't as good, but it is live and god damn that choir and organ.

"Then I will destroy these too. Why do people rebuild things that they know are going to be destroyed? Why do people cling to life when they know they can't live forever? Think how meaningless each of your lives is!" - Kefka

"Son of a submariner! You'll pay for this." - Kefka

"Bleh! You people make me sick! You sound like lines from a self-help book! If that's how it's going to be... I'll snuff them all out! Every last one of your sickening, happy little reasons for living!" - Kefka

"Life...Dreams...Hope...Where do they come from? And where do they go? None of that junk is enough to fulfill your hearts! Destruction...Destruction is what makes life worth living! Destroy! Destroy! Destroy! Let's destroy everything!" - Kefka

Although initially Kefka seems lighthearted and silly, his true nature is maniacal, short-tempered, flamboyant, destructive, and cruel. This is a result of him having been made into a Magitek Knight before the process was perfected.

He is a psychopath with no regard for human life nor remorse for the atrocities he commits, and revels in the suffering of others. He cracks dark jokes, breaks out into hysterical laughter upon causing mayhem, and his only joy is causing senseless destruction, death and chaos. Kefka doesn't even consider destruction fun unless lives are lost in the process. He lacks the capacity to feel empathy, implied by his line "We needn't show mercy to those who side with the Returners. ...which is good, because I never seem to have any of the stuff."

He is ruthless, as evidenced by his briefing to his soldiers during their march to Narshe. Despite his insanity he is high-functioning enough to plot to access the Warring Triad and to betray his liege. He has no qualms with murdering many of his own men even for trivial reasons. It is implied Kefka is hated and feared by many Imperial soldiers for this reason.

Event Start Date: September 9
Event Bonus Battle: September 12
Event End Date: September 19

All information is taken from a mixture of Reddit/Spreadsheets and my own obviously expert analysis.

Much info for the event comes from this thread and its related links: https://old.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...u8&sh=a0408b66

Though the information provided is used as a guideline and not always taken directly from the thread. When necessary, additional thoughts on Cid Missions and battle strategies are added.

Notable Rewards:

Kefka's Plume - Accessory: Moderate dark and poison element resistance.

New Characters Acquired:

There is sand on my boots!

Dress Spheres Acquired:

Run run, or you'll be well done.

Old Characters Acquired:

Mog
Strago
Kefka

New Memory Crystals:

This little hamlet has too much boring and not enough burning... TORCH EVERYTHING!

Old Memory Crystals:

Mog MC1/2
Strago MC1/2
Kefka MC1/2

New Record Materia:

'Wait', he says:

• Do I look like a waiter?

New Record Dive

Ooh! They're warm to the touch! What treasures!

New Legend Materia:

Spoiler: show

How about:

• a little magitek mayhem?

Acolyte Archives

• Beat 'Phoenix Cave 凶++' with a party consisting of FFT-0 synergy characters.
• Beat 'Fiend 滅++' with a party consisting of FFT-0 synergy characters.

Balance Changes

Ouch! B-blood... Blood! Blood!!! You vicious brat! Argh... Grrr...! You know, you really are a stupid... Vicious... Arrogant, whiny, pampered, backstabbing, worthless... LITTLE BRAT!!!

Relics

This isn't much more than a 'Kefka gains a USB' banner. And with fall fest *right there*, realms on parade starting tomorrow, whatever Octopath throws at us, and a much better general needs FF6 banner set with Wind God Gau, this is a big pass unless you want a dark magic user that isn't Kuja or Raines.

This isn't even a strong banner in terms of +element options.

Oh yeah, and Strago gets the magic v2 water chain.

Future Event Banner Comparison:

https://old.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...kc&sh=e936bb82

Wind.
God.
Gau.

NE God Gau just doesn't have the same ring to it.

This is one of the last ( I think the following FF3 event was the last) "off banner mistake" formats where you have a 2% chance at pulling relics for featured characters, but it is a better overall banner set for both and Gau's B2 even included Strago chain...so it really becomes a no brainer here.

Element Boosts:

Spoiler: show

Banner 1:

• Dark: Kefka USB
• Holy: Celes LMR

Banner 2:

• Fire: Locke BSB2 + LMR, Terra BSB2
• Water: Strago BSB

Ultra EX/Chase Type Glossary:

Spoiler: show

Rules of thumb:

1. Stat buffs from the EX mode have a unique ID and will stack with everything.
2. Many USB’s come with a built in class damage boost. These are separate from the iteration class boosts and do stack.
3. EX modes last 15 seconds, while buffs provided by the USB entry last 25 seconds. (Terra is an exception, with her EX Mode lasting 25 seconds).

Special Effects:

• General Boost: These can be anything specifically tied to the EX Mode - HP Stock, Crit Fix, Cast Speed, Element Boost, Stat buffs, and even Break Damage Limit. This will stack with every other buff on the user, including other EX Modes.
  
• Rank Boost: This provides a damage boost scaling with the rank of the ability used. The boost starts out at ~5% for R1 increasing to ~30% for R5+.
  
• Class Boost: This provides a flat damage boost for a specific class of abilities (Knight, Black Magic, etc). Generally weaker than the Rank Boost at ~15-20%, but applies to all abilities under that class - including Burst commands.
  
• Chase: Follow up attack(s) triggered by using abilities of a specific element or school while under the EX Mode. The number of these chase attacks can be random, reliant on the rank of the ability used (Rank Chase), status of the user (Status Chase), or increase in number as the trigger ability is used (Echo Chase).
  
• Cycle: Unit receives a quickcast or instacast charge when using abilities tied to a specific element or school – generally meant to be used in repetition for maximum effect.
  
• Build Up: A gradient damage boost toward a specific ability school based on the number of ability uses from the start of the battle to when the EX mode is applied. This buff is not tied to EX mode duration, and will persist whenever the EX mode is active.
  
• Wind Up/Finisher: Generally applying to Summoners, this will provide additional damage based on the sum total of all type (class or element) damage done during EX mode when the mode expires. The unique aspect of this is that a recast of the USB will count toward the exit damage of the previous EX mode.
  
• Phantom Cast: This effect will auto cast an attack every few second at a set rate independent of the character. The number of attacks or potency is not reliant on any outside factors (Haste, Slow, QC) and will generally produce 4 actions per EX Mode.
  
• Cheer: This will grant a party wide effect after using a triggering ability. For example, Marche will triple the cast speed of every front row party member (himself included) for 1 turn after he uses a Knight ability.
  
• Ability Double: This will guarantee that an ability will cast 2 times per use at the cost of 2 hones. The first cast can trigger appropriate W-Cast materia for a total of 3 hits, but the additional hits will not generate SB gauge.

Banner 1:

Strago gets a v2 water chain. +Mag, +Water, and chains 150. You know the drill.

Kefka's USB entry is 10x random dark/poison magic damage with an en-dark and EX Mode 'Artificial Magus'. The EX provides a Mag 30% boost and a dark element triggered echo chase, dealing 4-8x ST dark/poison/non damage. Getting 8 hits in will require some form of quickcast.

Mog gains the realm slot saver stamp, which is kind of sad because all his SB's tend to carry so much utility that hes better off with buffing than breaking - thats what dances are for. AoE Pentabreak with Pro/Shell/Haste.

Sadly, that's it on new B1 items. Like I said, unless you're pulling specifically for Kefka the gems here are found in Gau's event.

That said, Sabin is a surprisingly good fire monk and very underrated.

Returning Items:

Kefka: BSB2
Mog: BSB
Locke: USB2
Relm: BSB
Setzer:BSB
Sabin: BSB

Banner 2:

Potentially a better overall banner than B1 honestly.

Key pulls are Terra's very potent (and "broken") USB, Mog's buff suite + party quickcast, and Celes's utility Grand Cross BSB2.

This is also, I believe, the last appearance of Shadow's BSB on a banner.

Returning Highlights:
Terra: USB, BSB2
Mog: USB
Sabin: USB
Best Girl: BSB2
Shadow: BSB

Legend Materias:

• B1 - Strago: Begin battle with en-water.
• B1 - Mog: Small chance to afflict all enemies with Atk/Mag/Mnd -30% after using a Dancer ability.
• B1 - Relm: Small chance to grant target M. Blink after using a White Magic heal.
• B1 - Kefka: Small chance to w-cast dark element abilities.
• B1 - Setzer: Small increase to debuff duration.

• B1 - Celes: Small chance to w-cast Spellblade abilities.
• B1 - Cyan: Begin battle with en-fire.
• B1 - Shadow: Begin battle with en-dark.
• B1 - Locke: Begin battle with en-fire.
• B1 - Sabin: Atk buildup. Monk hits, 2% -> 34%.

Relic Discussion
https://old.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...gz&sh=bdf98f5f

[Kirin]

Read my lips - mercy is for wimps! There's a reason "oppose" rhymes with "dispose"...If they get in your way, kill them!

Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles

Imperial Elite Forces
凶Mega Armor (w/Sergeant and Imperial Elite)
HP: Mega Armor: 45,000 - Sergeant: 18,000 - Imperial Elite: 28,000
Target Score:

• Defeat the boss with 3 or more heroes not KO'ed.

Weak: Mega Armor + Sergeant: Lightning, Water - Imperial Elite: Poison
Absorb: None
Resist: None
Null: Earth
Status Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Mega Armor can do both magical and physical damage, and also carries gravity attacks. The support soldiers are all physical.

Be cautious of Last Stand as the Armor and Imperial Elite can Sap. The Sergeant can also silence.

There are three total waves of enemies.

1: Mega Armor x1, Sergeant x2
2: Mega Armor x1, Imperial Elite x2
3: Mega Armor x3

Tritoch, meet Enemies. Enemies, Tritoch.

Remember that gravity damage from earlier? It is a counter for black/white magic. Abuse Tritoch and get mitigation up quick. Not a difficult fight.

Phoenix Cave +
凶Red Dragon
HP: 350,000
Target Score:

• Defeat the Red Dragon with at least 3 characters not KO'ed.

Weak: Ice, Water
Absorbs: Fire
Resists: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Token physical attack, everything else is magical (and most of it is fire element!).

This is a straightforward fight that may be over pretty quick. There is a piercing magical hit to worry about, but thats why you bring fire resist accessories. Just don't use Reflect, as you'll get a Dispel to the face as an instant retaliation.

Acolyte Archive: Plenty of strong units with access to ice in 6. Water not to much, but that is standard for FFRK.

Mog's BSB can be very utilitarian here, offering a backup instant heal, hastega, mag boost for Terra and Strago, and a magic breakdown. Relm and Setzer/Mog would also generally be needed for heals and support.

Otherwise you're not really required to bring anyone for a specific mechanic, so go nuts.

Dullahan (Apoc +)
滅Dullahan
HP: 480,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Dullahan with 2 or more heroes not KO'ed.

Weak: Fire
Absorbs: Ice
Resist: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Really, this would have fit better for the CM. Terra and Locke can rip this guy apart faster than you can skip pulling on B1.

Mixed attacks with a preference to magical. And like the other times fighting him, Stop is a thing and Dullahan's Mnd is 300. Mind Breakdown/Affliction Break may be better options over Stop resist accessories, because his piercing attack is ice element and it can hurt even with mitigation. A status blink works just as well.

Finally, Dullahan has a 15-25% chance (based on phase) to counter any attack with a weak physical counter.

Fiend (Apoc ++)
滅Fiend
HP: 625,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Fiend with 2 or more heroes not KO'ed.

Weak: Holy
Absorbs: Ice
Resist: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Yes, this is a full Holy weak (200%) Apoc + fight.

Mixed attacks, and carries a slightly upgraded 3x target Stop but at a weaker success chance. Also like Dullahan, his elemental moves are ice based.

The main worry point is Fiendish Rage and its Very Weak (40%) upgrade to Ultimate Fiendish Rage. Though not piercing, the initial version still hurts and is not blink-able. The second version isn't piercing either, but carries a Dispel effect and a potency of 1200%.

Again, 200% weakness to holy.

Acolyte Archive:

Celes can use Assault Saber.
Leo can use Assault Saber.

200% holy weakness.

If you have Setzer's airship pimped out, he is a better option than Mog here for the stacking atk debuffs. The Stop is a slight worry, but not as accurate as Dullahan and Affliction Break (again, Setzer) can mitigate it nearly entirely.

With the holy weakness, you should be able to dig in reliably with a number of options in-realm, Celes and Leo especially. Sadly, Celes won't be able to take advantage of her Spellblade affinity with holy, but Leo can despite his earth knight focus.

Bank the 2mil gil.